Posted 19th June 2020 | No Comments

RMT launches industrial action ballot at Heathrow Express

Updated 11.45

THE RMT has launched a ballot for industrial action in protest at changes to working patterns at Heathrow Express which could involve redundancies. The union has claimed that 123 posts could be lost.

Heathrow Express said it is ‘disappointed’ about the ballot, because it is planning to merge the jobs of Mobile Sales Advisors and Customer Concierges into Sales and Service Ambassadors, although some will be part time, at least for a while, with the hope of making the jobs full time later on.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: ‘RMT is appalled that under the cover of the Covid-19 crisis, which has seen Heathrow Express workers furloughed, management have chosen to put a gun to our members’ heads demanding they accept a total reorganisation, including moving half the workforce on to part-time contracts, or face unemployment. The union is demanding the immediate withdrawal of both reorganisation and redundancy proposals to allow collective bargaining to take place. We have declared a dispute with Heathrow Express and have begun balloting our members for industrial action.’

Heathrow Express responded: ‘It’s disappointing the RMT have chosen to take this approach given a large number of colleagues stand to benefit from a pay rise as part of these changes and we have confirmed there will be no compulsory redundancies.

‘The changes will mean a pay reduction for some of our higher earning frontline colleagues but the impact of Covid-19 means we need to take action now to protect our business and jobs in the long term.

‘The furlough scheme has provided a valuable short term solution to a small part of our costs however it has become clear we need to make changes to our business now to prepare for a successful recovery from this crisis.

‘It’s our intention to work with RMT union representatives on delivering these changes which will mean we’re ready to deliver the same fast and frequent service for customers in years to come.’